2010 MLB Draft: Fifteen Targets For the Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are often praised for doing things “the right way.”

This sentiment—although cliché and not entirely accurate—generally defines the organizational importance placed on pitching, defense, small ball tactics, and player development.

Although the Twins have seemingly eschewed the small ball tactics in recent seasons, the club still believes heavily in defense and pitching.

It would seem that the club has an abundance of outfielders already in the system with top prospects Aaron Hicks, Ben Revere, Max Kepler, and Angel Morales all looking to be within a few years of reaching the big leagues.

As such, the Twins could logically be expected to abandon the usual philosophy of drafting the best available player—no matter what position he plays—and instead opt to improve by adding a big-armed pitcher or another infielder to the farm system.

Minnesota possesses the twenty-first overall pick in tonight’s First-Year Player Draft and could use that pick on any of a number of players.

This year’s draft—after the projected top three picks of catcher Bryce Harper, shortstop Manny Machado, and right-hander Jameson Taillon—has been deemed “wide-open” by many experts.

In fact, in describing the quality of the draft pool after those three, one unidentified NL general manager said, “there’s virtually no difference between the fourth and 44th picks.”

With that thought in mind let’s take a look at fifteen players that could join the Minnesota Twins organization tonight during the opening-round of the First-Year Player Draft.

Stetson Allie

Name: Stetson Allie
Age: 19

Position(s): 1B/3B/RHP
School: St. Edward High School (OH)

Height: 6’4”
Weight: 225lbs

Bats: Both
Throws: Right

Bio: Allie has the arm to be a pitcher and the bat to be a big league hitter, and which direction he’ll eventually go is still up in the air. On the hill he has a big-time fastball, a good slider and a solid changeup. He’s a big guy who many believe would be better suited toward a short-relief, late-inning role rather than as a starter.

On the flip-side of the coin, he has good power to all fields and soft hands to play solid defense at either corner. As evidenced by his work on the hill, he has a cannon and could be an ideal big league third baseman.

Bryce Brentz

Name: Bryce Brentz
Age: 21

Position(s): OF
School: Middle Tennessee State

Height: 6’0”
Weight: 190lbs

Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Bio: Brentz is a very solid corner outfielder who has shown an ability to consistently hit for both average and power. Originally a pitcher—with a strong low-to-mid ‘90s fastball—Brentz switched positions to take advantage of his above average stroke at the plate.

In addition to his prowess at the dish, Brentz also has solid range in the outfield and his arm profiles out very well in right field. He is one of the top college hitters available in the draft and could be on the fast-track to the big leagues no matter where he lands, as such he’s one of only three full-time outfielders to crack this list.

Yordy Cabrera

Name: Yordy Cabrera
Age: 19

Position(s): SS/3B/RHP
School: Lakeland High School (FL)

Height: 6’4”
Weight: 190lbs

Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Bio: Cabrera, like many of the players listed here, is adept on the mound as well as in the field. The Twins would likely eschew Cabrera’s pitching abilities (he boasts a low ‘90s fastball) to make the most of his incredible athleticism.

Cabrera is currently a shortstop with somewhat limited range, but good hands and a quick first step. He’s considered very raw, but also very flexible and will likely move to third base or a corner outfield position as he progresses. He has a very good arm that figures to play well anywhere on the diamond.

Nick Castellanos

Name: Nick Castellanos
Age: 18

Position(s): SS/3B
School: Archbishop McCarthy High School (FL)

Height: 6’4”
Weight: 210lbs

Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Bio: Castellanos is one of the most logical targets for the Twins in this year’s draft as he fits two of the biggest needs within the organization. He is a solid defender at shortstop thanks in large part to his good footwork and soft hands. He also has a solid arm that helps make up for his limited range. He could shift to third base as he grows into his body.

Additionally, Castellanos is an above-average right-handed hitter who has shown some raw power. As he grows into his body, Castellanos could develop into a major run producer. He is a solid base-runner with average speed and would fit nicely in the middle of the Twins’ lineup of the future.

Christian Colon

Name: Christian Colon
Age: 21

Position(s): SS/2B
School: Cal State Fullerton

Height: 6’0”
Weight: 180lbs

Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Bio: Colon is considered by many to be one of the best big league ready prospects in this year’s draft because of his makeup and instincts. All-in-all he’s a solid hitter who drives the ball well and figures to hit for average and could develop moderate power as he ages.

In the field he plays solid defense thanks in large part to a great first step, positioning, and a very good throwing arm. There are some who think that he may need to move off of shortstop and transition to second base, but Colon is dedicated to improving enough to stick at his natural position.

Kaleb Cowart

Name: Kaleb Cowart
Age: 18

Position(s): 3B/RHP
School: Cook County High School (GA)

Height: 6’3”
Weight: 190lbs

Bats: Both
Throws: Right

Bio: Cowart is an intriguing prospect as he could be a future star no matter which route he takes, be it as a power-throwing pitcher or as a power-hitting third baseman. On the mound, Cowart has an outstanding fastball that dominates hitters. He can also toss a slider and a changeup, although neither is terribly consistent, but both compliment his fastball well.

On the flip side of the coin, Cowart is a slick-fielding third baseman with a great arm for the infield and the potential to develop into a big-time power-hitter as he ages and grows into his frame. He currently prefers to play every day, but is open to committing himself to pitching if the situation calls for it.

Derek Dietrich

Name: Derek Dietrich
Age: 20

Position(s): SS/3B
School: Georgia Tech

Height: 6’1”
Weight: 190lbs

Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Bio: Dietrich is no stranger to the draft after being selected by the Houston Astros in the third-round of the 2007 draft. Dietrich chose to attend Georgia Tech and has only increased his stock as a hitter. There is little doubt that Dietrich will hit—and hit well—at the big league level, but there is little evidence to suggest he’ll develop much power.

The apparent lack of power is a bit disconcerting as Dietrich is likely to be moved from shortstop to third base in the big leagues due to his lack of range and speed. He’s got a good arm and should be able to handle the defensive requirements of third base.

Delino DeShields Jr.

Name: Delino DeShields Jr.
Age: 17

Position(s): 2B/OF
School: Woodward Academy (GA)

Height: 5’9”
Weight: 180lbs

Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Bio: DeShields, much like his father, bases much of his game around his blazing speed. The younger DeShields profiles out to have a little more pop than his father, but will get by mostly on spraying line drives from corner to corner and wheeling around the bases.

His glove is solid enough to play in center field and his speed makes him a legitimate asset out there as well. He does, however, lack arm strength which has many teams considering a move to second base where his soft hands and range would make his weak arm less of a liability.

Jedd Gyorko

Name: Jedd Gyorko
Age: 21

Position(s): SS/2B
School: West Virginia

Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190lbs

Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Bio: On the surface, Gyroko appears to be the prototypical “bad body” player that appears in every draft. He isn’t built like a professional ball player and has limited range and arm strength, both of which figure to push him off of shortstop and to either second, third, or even left field in the long-term.

What Gyroko can do—and do well—is hit. He can hit for average and has good power to the gaps. He should develop some moderate pop as he progresses. Additionally, he’s a good—albeit not fast—base runner who won’t clog the bases. He’s not an ideal draft pick, but he could be molded into a very competent, offensive-minded big leaguer.

Jarrett Parker

Name: Jarrett Parker
Age: 21

Position(s): OF
School: Virginia

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 210lbs

Bats: Both
Throws: Right

Bio: Parker’s biggest assets are his speed and his defense. The lanky outfielder plays a mean center field utilizing his excellent instincts and speed to track down anything hit his way. His arm is a bit stretched in center field, but his ability to get to balls quickly helps neutralize his lack of arm strength.

At the dish Parker is a mixed bag. He has looked great and lost at different times leading many to wonder if he’ll be more than a bottom of the lineup burner in pros. He has a body that could allow for some moderate power that will come at the cost of a high batting average.

Josh Sale

Name: Josh Sale
Age: 19

Position(s): OF
School: Bishop Blanchet High School (WA)

Height: 6’1”
Weight: 205lbs

Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Bio: Sale is one of—if not the—best high school bats available in the draft. He boasts amazing bat speed and a quick, compact swing that figures to generate a high average and plenty of power as he matures. He doesn’t bring much on the basepaths, but if he hits the ball as well as he’s capable of, it won’t be an issue.

Sale’s commitment to improving his defense has only further increased his stock in this year’s draft. Through hard work and dedication he has become a very competent outfielder with an above average arm and good instincts in the field. It isn’t very hard to picture Sale playing balls off the limestone in right at Target Field.

Kolbrin Vitek

Name: Kolbrin Vitek
Age: 21

Position(s): 2B/RHP/OF
School: Ball State University

Height: 6’3”
Weight: 200lbs

Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Bio: Vitek is yet another two-way player who can help a team on the mound or at the dish, but it is his bat that will likely get him drafted in the early rounds. He possesses a short, quick swing that has helped him produce at the plate no matter where he’s played. He is also a major asset on bases with above-average speed and the ability to swipe double-digit bases.

In the field Vitek is a man without a position. He has bounced around a bit and is currently entrenched as second base, but many feel he doesn’t have the hands or footwork to stay at the position long-term. He could be moved to third or perhaps to the outfield as he has a good throwing arm and plenty of speed to cover ground.

Alex Wimmers

Name: Alex Wimmers
Age: 21

Position(s): RHP
School: Ohio State

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 195lbs

Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Bio: In a very solid class of college hurlers, Wimmers has the potential to be the best of the bunch. The right-hander has a tough low-to-mid ‘90s fastball, a good changeup, and a solid curveball. He has good control and poise on the hill and throws tons of strikes.

What Wimmers lacks in raw, overpowering stuff he makes up for with his total package of three good pitches and great poise on the hill. He has the makeup to speed through the minors and help a ball club sooner rather than later. He figures to be a solid middle of the rotation starter in either league.

Asher Wojciechowski

Name: Asher Wojciechowski
Age: 21

Position(s): RHP
School: The Citadel

Height: 6’4”
Weight: 235lbs

Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Bio: Wojciechowski is a hard-throwing right-hander with the ability to absolutely dominate hitters. This is thanks, in large part, to a mid-‘90s fastball that is accompanied by a good hard slider and an underwhelming changeup. Wojciechowski has a big frame that makes his mound presence and willingness to go right after hitters all the more imposing.

The biggest knock against Wojciechowski is his command. Many scouts question whether he has the control necessary to stick as a starter in the long-term. If not, he could be an incredibly valuable late-innings weapon given his fastball/slider combo. His makeup also suggests he should progress quickly through the minors and could help his big league club within a season or two.

Brandon Workman

Name: Brandon Workman
Age: 21

Position(s): RHP
School: University of Texas

Height: 6’5”
Weight: 220lbs

Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Bio: Workman may be one of the more polished and unheralded hurlers in this year’s draft class. The former Longhorn possesses a very good low-to-mid ‘90s fastball and a knee-buckling 12-to-6 curveball that are close to big league ready right now. Additionally, he tosses an above-average cutter and a solid changeup.

His strong four-pitch repertoire combines very nicely with his competitive, “bulldog-style” mentality on the hill. Workman has great command over his pitches and generally throws ahead in the count. He has the potential to be a serious big-game pitcher down the line and could definitely be a front line starter in either league as he matures.